Elizabeth Rex and Kara Young: Chafee should permit 'life' plate

The pro-adoption Rhode Island "Choose Life" license plate, with its two smiling children and its positive message to "choose life," was approved on July 2 with bi-partisan support in both the House and the Senate of the General Assembly. But will it

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Commentary staff
Posted Jul. 11, 2013 @ 3:18 pm

The pro-adoption Rhode Island "Choose Life" license plate, with its two smiling children and its positive message to "choose life," was approved on July 2 with bi-partisan support in both the House and the Senate of the General Assembly. But will it receive the approval of Governor Chafee, who was endorsed by the National Abortion Rights Action League?

First of all, the purpose of this specialty plate -- as clearly stated in the bill itself -- is "to support the alternative choices of infant adoption and Rhode Island Safe Haven (General Laws 23-13.1-23-13.1-5)." Who can possibly be opposed to two positive choices for an unplanned pregnancy or an unwanted newborn? The answer should be: no one, including Governor Chafee.

Adoption and the Safe Haven program are two positive alternative choices that everyone can and should support. They are two "pro-life choices" that actually unite citizens because they represent common ground and common sense. Those who say they are "pro-choice" will naturally support the adoption option, and so will those who say they are "pro-life." If anyone opposes adoption, that person should no longer be called "pro-choice." Choice is not synonymous with limiting to one option.

Rhode Island offers many specialty license plates because they are a popular and lucrative way to raise revenue, while also raising greater awareness and funding for important causes such as infant adoption and the Rhode Island Safe Haven program.

The Rhode Island Safe Haven for Infants Act was passed in 2003, with bi-partisan support but without any state funding. The law lets a parent relinquish a newborn infant anonymously within 30 days at any hospital, medical emergency facility, fire station or police station with immunity from prosecution. The infant will be cared for until an adoptive family is identified.

Women facing an unplanned pregnancy very often need moral support and financial assistance in order to choose life. Care Net Pregnancy Center of Rhode Island generously provides the free services and counseling women so often need, including adoption counseling. While adoption is a difficult decision, pregnant women need to know that adoption plans can be open, closed and even anonymous, as under the Rhode Island Safe Haven for Infants Act.

It is very troubling that Planned Parenthood is opposed to Care Net's sponsorship of the Choose Life plate. As with all non-profit organizations, Care Net is a federally and state approved tax-exempt organization, so why should it suddenly be attacked for its charitable or religious mission? The government grants tax-exempt status to countless diverse, non-denominational and faith-based organizations because it recognizes that all of these charitable organizations greatly benefit the communities they serve.

Religious discrimination is clearly unconstitutional.

There is no justification whatsoever for a veto of the Choose Life plate based upon its sponsorship by Care Net. Four other very diverse specialty plates were also approved by the General Assembly and Governor Chafee should approve all of them. A veto of just the Choose Life plate would certainly appear to be viewpoint discrimination which is unconstitutional.

It is well known that pro-abortion organizations such as NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women have legally challenged the approval of Choose Life plates in many other states. They have all lost all of their Choose Life plate lawsuits.

Clearly, this is the moment for Rhode Island to join all of the other 29 states that have approved their own Choose Life plates, including Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The final reason Governor Chafee should approve this specialty plate is because it actually represents everything that he claims he has stood for as a politician: moderation, unity, moving toward the center, going "against the tide," protecting freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equal treatment under the law, tolerance, and, yes, even because he has claimed to be "pro-choice" and not just "pro-abortion." We will soon know.

Elizabeth Rex (info@thechildrenfirst.org) is president and co-founder of the Children First Foundation. Kara Young (Kararusso71@yahoo.com) ran for Congress and lieutenant governor.